SOU's seniors were honored before their 1-0 loss to Oregon Tech on Saturday morning.
ASHLAND – Rebekah Nisbet spoiled the Southern Oregon University soccer team’s Senior Day with one mighty strike Saturday morning at University Field.
Oregon Tech’s senior midfielder fired from about 26 yards out in the 48th minute and lined it right into the net, accounting for the lone goal in the Owls’ 1-0 Cascade Conference victory over the Raiders at University Field.
The Raiders (8-4-3 overall, 4-2-1 CCC) had won four straight against Oregon Tech (6-8-1, 3-4-0), including a 3-0 nonleague decision on Sept. 28 in Ashland.
But, despite winning the possession battle, SOU’s attack couldn’t get much going with the Owl defense clamping down. Nisbet’s shot was one of just five that went on goal for both teams all game as the Raiders had 12 shots to OIT’s eight.
Sydney Paulsen appeared to tie the game with 2 minutes, 28 seconds left, but her header off a deflection was waived off with an offside penalty.
SOU hadn't been shut out in six games.
The step was a big one for the Owls toward getting a berth in the six-team conference tournament. They started the day sixth in the standings.
As long as top-ranked Concordia defeats Corban, the Raiders will still control their own destiny in next week’s final games of the regular season at Evergreen and Northwest. If Corban goes down and SOU wins both, the Raiders will get the No. 2 seed in the tournament and a first-round bye.